Concrete spreader



April J. P. FABER 2,439,620

I CONCRETE SPREADER Filed Sept. 28, 1944' 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR BY M204 1 ATTORNEY April 13, 1948. J. P. FABER CONCRETE SPREADER Filed Sept. 28, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATORNEY April 13, J. P FA CONCRETE SPREADER Filed Sept. 28, 1944 4 Sheets*Sheet 3 Jab]? 1 F 5175!". I

INVENTOR ATTORNEY April 13, 1948. J; P. FA BER concnm'z SPREADER Filed Sept. 28. 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 13, 1948 CONCRETE SPREADER.

John I. Faber, Dunellen, N. J., assignor to Ransome Machinery Company, Dunellen, N. J., a; corporation of New Jersey Application September 28, 1944, Serial No. 556,129

This invention relates ing concrete which has been deposited upon a roadway or the like, as from the usual concrete mixing apparatus, to supplant the difiicult and costly manual work involved in conventional methods of distributing, spreading and leveling the concrete.

Conventional types of concrete paving machines'or mixers employ a boom of considerable length which is supported by cables from the frame of the machine in which the mixing drum is mounted. This boom provides a track on which the distributing bucket runs to and from the mixer to receive and convey to points distant from the mixer the mix-ed concrete and dump it at convenient points, after which the concrete is spreadand formed into a pavement by workmen. The boom is pivotally mounted on the frame of the machine adjacent the discharge spout of themixer so that it can be swung laterally to bring its outer part and the bucket thereon to different points from side to side of the road grade being paved, and the bucket is provided with means for propelling it along the boom in both directions and for tripping'its bottom door at any desired point along the boom for depositing its loadof mixed concrete at that point.

The tendency in recent times is to increase the capacity of the mixing drum, so that large batches of concrete can be mixed therein and. discharged therefrom and the work thus expedited. Efficient and economical operation of the mixer also requires that the full batch of the drum shall be discharged therefrom in one operation so that it can'be immediately recharged, and the mixing carried on while the concrete is being distributed. The use of such large capacity mixing drums makes the problem of distribution of the concrete on the roadway all the more important, notwithstanding the fact that the bucket may be discharged at any desired point within the range of the boom.

The fact that the buckets can be dumped at any point along the boom affords only a partial solution with respect to distribution of the concrete'on the roadway and the formation of the concrete into a pavement. A bucket which dumps its entire contents at one point requires that the greater part of this load of concrete be spread and distributed by hand or that only a part of the batch of concrete mixed and ready for distribution be discharged into the bucket and distributed, which greatly reduces the normal output of the machine and results in serious loss tothe contractor. To overcome this objection, double buckets have been employed.

In the dual bucket type of apparatus the buckets are arranged to be operated independently in association with two boom sections secured together and operating as a single boom. The

5 Claims. (CI. 94-44) to apparatus for spreadbuckets are loaded by being presented together at the discharge spout of themixer, and the batch of concrete is divided evenly between them as it comes from the discharge spout. One of the buckets may be drawn out on the boom and discharged or both buckets may be discharged at the same time, and at the same or different points along the boom.

When'the buckets in the dual type of apparatus are moved to the dumping point and discharged separately, the boom may be swung laterally after one bucket is discharged and before the other is moved to a discharging point, so that the batch may be deposited on the grade at two points spaced from each other longitudinally or laterally, or in both directions, and a part of the manual workof spreading and placing the batch thus dispensed with. While the dual type of apparatus operates efficiently so far as division of the batch and mixing production of the drum are concerned, this type, as well as other types of mixers still requires that the concrete be spread over a considerable area, which involves a great deal of manual labor in spreading and placing it properly on the grade;

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus embodying novel plow means for expeditiously spreading concrete deposited upon a supporting surface.

Another object is to provide an apparatus embodying novel plow means for spreading concrete deposited upon a supporting surface, in which means are provided for changing the plowing angle of theplow, and in which means are incorporated for adjusting the plow relatively to the supporting surface.

A further object is to provide a concrete spreader embodying a carriage structure adapted to move along form members such as are employed in pavement construction work, to be guided thereby both as to the direction of progression of the work and vertically with respect to the roadway surface upon which the concrete is deposited, in which novel plow means are provided for spreading concrete deposited upon the roadway surface between the form members, and in which means are incorporated for propelling the plow means back and forth crosswise of the roadway surface for distributing andlevelling the concrete.

The broad idea of a spreading blade in a concrete spreader, which blade is rotatable: about a vertical axis while being moved transversely of a surface on which concrete is deposited, is described and. claimed in my copending application Serial #566,128.

With these' and other objects in view, as may appear from the accompanying specification, the invention consists of various. features of construction and combination of parts, which will be first described in connection with the accompanying drawings, showing a concrete spreader, of a preferred form embodying the invention, and the features forming the invention will be specifically pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings:

i supporting surface comprises a spreader or Figure 1 is a top plan view of a concrete spreada 7 er inaccordance with the present invention,with

a portion broken away for the sakeof conciseness.

Figure 2 is a front elevational view oi' tlie structure shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an end view of the concrete spreader with a portion broken away for the purpose of illustration.

Figure 4 is an elevational view of a traveler drive taken from the position indicated by line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a partial sectional view of a concrete spreading plow adjusting means.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 66 of Figure 5. t

Figure? is a view taken from the position indicated by line 7- of Figure 2.

Figure 8 is an .elevational view of a portion of the structurleof Figure 5 but showing a modifi-' cation incorporated therein.

Figure 9'is a partialisectiona'l view of the structure shown in Figure 8. V

Referring more particularly to the drawings, Figures 1, 2, and 3 illustrate a carriage or support Hi which is provided with flanged traction wheels 5 I arranged to run on spaced, parallelform members t2 such as are used in concrete-pavement axles rlfiio-f'thestwo rear-wheels H. "Theshe H is :s'upponted hearing l:8 attached o th wo frame members 4.3,, an :the sha t is ovi with sprockets J79 ,dniying ch ins -20 passing around sprockets :21 attached to the two. rear axles i5. To the shaft l1 and within the two frame nrembe-rs is are ,attached two sprockets 22 for dn'ving chains 23 each extending hori zontally' inside one of the frame members towar the .rorward end of the carria e. 23 ipasses around :a sprocket -24 attached tea shaft 25., :the'latteribeing SuDpQIted :in bearings 26 mounted inside the respective'irame member 53. 1A sprocket 2;?! is .attaohe'dto each shaft-12,5 for driving .a chain :28 which passes around .a sprocketifi attachedito one of the-frontaxles 115.

The sprockets 2;! Land :29 arexof the same diameter, and the sprockets 159, =22,"2 4,-and 2:1 are also of the same diameter so that all the traction wheels ll will be driven at the same speed. Powerl'fer driving the shaft IE1 is supplied by an engine or motor 139 which "is Ernounted .on the carriage it). A speed reducer 31, of any approved type,- is connected with the engine at, as at 32, and is provided-with .pdwe'r take-off sprockets 33 and 34. the sprocket'33and-:a:second.sprocket:3B attached to the shaft .ltl for {driving :the latter. :Sp'eed ire ducers or the foregoingutype, including icontrols' for eont'roiling zthetransmission .orz ewer through Each chain' A chain 35 passes around spreading unit 31. The spreader 31 is mounted on a traveler or carriage 33 which is arranged for movement back and forth along a track or guide 39, the. latter extending crosswise of the carriage H]; that is, at right angles to the form members 42. The track 39 comprises two parallel but spaced I-beams 40 which are mounted on the frame members [3. The traveler 38 comprises a yoke 41 which nnderlies the I-beams 40 and wh ch is p ovided w th two u tanding'we e 'oi which is o id s? e e flan w ee s .4 ar anged to when the bottom-fl n e 4 of one or t l-beems with the M l-beam locatedbetween the-two sets of wheels. I

Back andforthmovement is imparted-t0 the traveler 38 by an endless chain 45 passes around a drive sprocket 5B and an idler sprocket All rotatably mounted on one of the Lbeams 140, g

with the sprockets 0 arran d as rep e the straight reaches of the chain (disregarding slack in parallelism with theflange-M of the 'll-bearn An arm 4, sfi dte the okefl and has a'rwqte connection 49 with an arm 5;] attached tovone link of the chain 135. The arm .50 extends in wardly .of the .chainr nd the pivotal connection a9 is located its axis coincident with. a straight line passing through the axes of the drive sprocket ddand the idler. Sprocketi41- It will thus be seen that as the arm .5 ll'is.,ar.-. riedby the lower reach of the chain 14.5, their eler 38 will {be moved the same'direction that when the arm is ,carrieelby the upper re of the chain, the traveler will .be movediri ,a. reverse direction; also that the traveler .33 re.- mains stationary while the arm ill-moves .tllfio 1 the curved phases of the chain .45 in its ssage' around the-two sprdckets 14,6 and 41.. Acco'r nigly'; unidirecti nal-movem n o t e w hairil h'wis tran mediate-tack and ,iorth movem nt o mena eler 38, which inoyes the preader 1,3] bckand forth in .a horizontal ,path .across the reader or other surface 'beinspaved. j j

T e spr d r comprises :a ti a i ulaiil shaped plow iorbo'dy ,5! when ,r'di g to Figure Thus the plow 5] embodies an ularly related vertical side faces ;52jjt erm1n ing in a vertical concrete .dividingeglge 53. plow .51 is attached to .8 1 ,8 Shi t L W LQI is rotata y' m unted in a tubula heeri gjl the latter being attached to the yokefij pop a key .5] extending int!) l0 ifilll n Dfi 5 lllzthe shaft 55. A handle 59 is fixeideto anaertends radially ,from-the'icollar ,56 to ii ilfiit j ual turning of :the plow .to ,cliffererltw pipwi g an les, support of the ow i d s d anglilai positions, or reversal ,of .thepmw. g

In view of the t at the arriage 1.0 be .moved along ;the form memllers I2 and the traveler travels backame forth falon g track thelattenbe e arranged at right-an es to the rormmembe s, th sp ade Blis escalat of universal movement :in a jher n e nleee- This-nrovidesta ran e m v m n qth plow which permits then-low :to the site l 'meh'en vered :fOI difi i h kfiing 5.1 s ein and J QEQ iQ QQB Crete deposit d lar e or smel :bei ehe ie en the roadway or-o'ther suppqrting suriace.

is fixed to a rotary shaft 60 which is provided with a second sprocket Bl. A chain 62 connects the sprocket 61 with the power take-off sprocket 34.

In Figure 5, the shaft 54 extends some distance above the collar 56 and is threaded at 63 for threaded connection with a hub 64 of a handwheel 65. Since the hub 64 rests on the collar 56 and the latter rests on the tubular bearing 55, thesprea-der 31 may be adjusted vertically through rotation of the handwheel 65.

Between the rear wheels II and the spreader 31 is mounted a strike-off blade 65 which extends at right angles to the frame members I3 and is employed for contouring the finished surface of the pavement after general distribution of the concrete by the spreader 31. The strike-off blade 66 is made in sections 61 which are arranged end to end and flatwise against a supporting angle 68. Slots 69 are provided in the sections 61 to receive bolts 10 which are threaded into or through the angle 68, Thus the individual sections 69 may be adjusted vertically to modify the contour forming characteristics of the strike-off blade 66.

The angle 68 is attached to the lower flange of an I-beam H, and angles 12 are attached to the I-beam for engagement with the two rear legs l4 to guide the I-beam when it is raised and lowered, as when the strike-off blade is adjusted vertically in accordance with specific road building requirements, or for moving purposes. Means for raising and lowering the I-beam H comprise plunger rods 13 which are attached to the I-beam and operated by hydraulic cylinders 14 mounted on the two frame members l3. Carriage supported strike-01f blades and hydraulic cylinder controlling means therefor are old and well known in the art and need not be described in more detail.

Figures 8 and 9 illustrate a modification in the angular adjustment means for the spreader 31, wherein the tubular bearing 55 is provided with teeth 15 which are engageable with similar teeth 16 on the collar 56. The teeth 15 and 16 are normally engaged to latch the spreader 31 against accidental rotation, but the teeth may be disengaged to permit rotation of the shaft 54 by merely lifting the handwheel B5 and the collar 56 a short distance.

It will be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific construction or arrangement of parts shown, but that they may be widely modified within the invention defined by the claims.

What is claimed:

1. A concrete spreader for distributing concrete deposited upon a roadway comprising a carriage adapted to move along the roadway, a horizontal guide mounted on said carriage cross-wise of the roadway, a traveler movable along said guide, a concrete spreading plow having a vertical shaft rotatably mounted on said traveler, said spreading plow being wedge-shaped with a concrete dividing edge positioned to one side of said shaft, means for rotating said shaft to adjust said spreading plow to different plowing angles, means for propelling said traveler back and forth along said guide to move the spreading plow in a horizontal path over the roadway, and means for adjusting the spreading plow toward and away from the roadway.

2. A concrete spreader for distributing concrete deposited upon a roadway comprising a carriage adapted .to move along the roadway, a horizontal guide mounted on said carriage crosswise of the roadway, a traveler movable along said guide, a vertically positioned bearing fixed to said traveler, a concrete spreading plow having a shaft rotatably mounted in said bearing, a h'andle connected with the shaft for rotating said shaft to adjust said spreading plow to different plowing angles, coactive latch formations on said handle and said bearing for latching the handle and said shaft against accidental rotation, an endless flexible means pivotally connected with said traveler in such manner as to move the traveler back and forth along said guide through unidirectional movement of the endless flexible means for moving the spreading plow back and forth in a horizontal path over the roadway, and means for driving said endless flexible means.

3. A concrete spreader for distributing concrete deposited upon a supporting surface comprising a support, a guide, a concrete spreading plow mounted on said guide for movement in a horizontal path over the supporting surface, means for propelling said spreading plow back and forth along said guide, said spreading plow being adjustably mounted on said traveler, a hand wheel operatively connected with said spreading plow' for adjusting the latter vertically, said spreading plow having angularly related side faces terminating in a vertical concrete parting edge, and a handle connected with said spreading plow to adjust the latter to different plowing angles.

4. A concrete spreader for distributing concrete deposited upon a supporting surface comprising a movable support, a horizontal guide mounted on said support, a traveler movable along said guide, a vertical bearing fixed to said traveler, a concrete spreading means located underneath said traveler and having a shaft rotatably supported in said bearing, a handle for rotating said shaft, said handle being splined to said shaft for .relative movement longitudinally of the shaft, a hand wheel threaded on the upper end of said shaft and resting on said handle with the latter resting on the upper end of said bearing to support said concrete spreading means, and means for propelling said traveler back and forth along said guide.

5. A concrete spreader for distributing concrete deposited upon a supporting surface comprising a movable support, a horizontal guide mounted on said support, a traveler movable along said guide, a vertical bearing fixed to said traveler, a concrete spreading means located underneath said traveler and having a shaft rotatably supported in said bearing, a handle for rotating said shaft, said handle being splined to said shaft for relative movement longitudinally of the shaft, a hand wheel threaded on the upper end of said shaft and resting on said handle with the latter resting on the upper end of said bearing to support said concrete spreading means, meansfor propelling said traveler back and forth along said guide, and coactive means on said bearing and said handle for latching the latter against accidental rotation.

JOHN P. FABER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,579,443 Greene Apr. 6, 1926 2,224,084 Mills Dec. 3, 1940 2,334,717 Long Nov. 23, 1943 

